North Fork fire departments christen Southold’s new trucks

When each of the North Fork’s volunteer fire departments get together for a celebration, there is sure to be a little friendly shenanigans.

So when members of the East Marion and Cutchogue departments grabbed a hose and helped Southold christen its two newest trucks Sunday, naturally a hose fight broke out between volunteers.

“It’s a christening,” joked Southold fire commissioner Ty Cochran. “We knew that would happen. We all like to get together. We’re like siblings.”

Sunday’s event was an opportunity for members of each of the local departments, including Shelter Island, to check out Southold’s new Sutphen engine and ladder trucks.

Both trucks replaced vehicles in the fleet that were more than 20 years old and they both serve dual purposes, said Mr. Cochran, a former chief of both the fire department and the town police department. The engine serves as both a rescue truck and a pumper, while the ladder truck can also serve as a pumper.

The neighboring departments hosed down the new vehicles during the christening ceremony, which included the cracking of a champagne bottle on each truck.

Mr. Cochran called the trucks “the two newest members” of the department and Chief Peggy Killian remarked that she hopes some time passes before the trucks have to be put to use during a fire call.

Photo Credit: Southold, Cutchogue and East Marion fire department volunteers hosed down Southold’s two new trucks and each other Sunday afternoon. (Credit: Grant Parpan)